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English language students need visual input and stimulation to make meaning of their learning. Visually stimulating tasks can include both instructional resources and learning resources. As an instructional resource, visual tools can illuminate language through content and cultural connections. Especially when real-life situations may not be possible to create in the classroom, visual tools are the “realia” that can make language visible to students. Engaging students with visually stimulating tasks for learning, such as examining images of a cultural practice, has the potential to elicit meaningful conversations and discussion. In this module, you will explore how language learning can ignite creativity and critical thinking, while also supporting students in their language learning and development of intercultural competence.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand the importance and positive effects of making learning visually stimulating for language learners

• identify visual tools that work best for your instructional context

• examine how visually stimulating tasks can lead learners through the critical thinking process

• discuss how a creating a visually stimulating task can be used to enhance a language activity (e.g., infographics, images, movie/video clips)

• create or reconstruct a language task to become a visually stimulating task

Click here to download the Module 8 Packet.

8.1 Watch

Explore ideas for creating and facilitating visually stimulating tasks by watching three videos.

8.2 Read

Explore ideas for creating and facilitating visually stimulating tasks by reading at least two articles.

Articles

Article 1: Collaborative Mind Mapping by Melissa Mendelson

Suited for all levels, this activity provides step-by-step instructions for using "mind maps" as a graphic organizer for effectively teaching vocabulary and curricular content to language learners.

Source: Mendelson, M. (2016). Collaborative mind mapping. English Teaching Forum, 54(2), 44-48. https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/etf_54_2_pg44-48.pdf

Article 2: How Many Words Is a Picture Worth? Integrating Visual Literacy in Language Learning with Photographs by Lottie Baker

This article connects the importance of visual literacy with language learning through meaningful interactions, critical thinking skills, global perspectives, and ideas for scaffolding. Strategies and resources are shared to support the use of visual tools in the language classroom.

Source: Baker, L. (2015). How many words is a picture worth? Integrating visual literacy in language learning with photographs. English Teaching Forum, 53(4), 2-13. https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/etf_53_4_pg02-13_508_0.pdf

Additional Resources

Thousand Word Pictures by Tabitha Kidwell

Source: Kidwell, T. (2018). Thousand word pictures. English Teaching Forum, 56(3), 41-48. https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/etf_56_3_pg41-48.pdf

Student Storytelling through Sequential Art by David Fay

Source: Fay, D. (2007). Student storytelling through sequential art. English Teaching Forum, 45(3), 2-23. https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/07-45-3-b_0.pdf

Anchor Charts by Elizabeth Mulvahill

Source: Mulvahill, E. (2020, July 14). Anchor Charts 101: Why and how to use them. We Are Teachers. https://www.weareteachers.com/anchor-charts-101/

Movie Talks by Martina Bex

Source: Bex, M. (n.d.) Movie talk. The Comprehensible Classroom. https://comprehensibleclassroom.com/how-to/movietalk/

Human Mind Maps by Tom Glass

Source: Glass, T. (2016). Human mind maps. English Teaching Forum, 54(2), 37-39. https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/etf_54_2_pg37-39.pdf

8.3 Search

Explore more teaching resources about creating and facilitating visually stimulating tasks by searching these websites:

• American English

• Canva

• Adobe Spark Meme Maker

• QR Code Generator

(Hint: Try using these keywords in the American English site search box - graphic organizers, concept map, visual learning. Type the keywords in the “Search This Site” space located in the top right corner of the website. Review the many visually stimulating possibilities with Canva, Adobe Spark, and QR Code Generator. )

8.4 Think

Consider the ways you already use or would like to integrate visual tools in your instruction. Think about the following questions and write down some thoughts in your journal.

• Have you successfully used a visually stimulating tool, such as a concept map or another graphic organizer? If so, how was the tool a useful resource for your students for the lesson or activity? If not, then think about a lesson or activity in which your students had difficulty working with the content.

• How could using a visual tool, such as a graphic organizer, assist your students with understanding a concept more easily? How could using visuals stimulate learning for your students?

• In what ways could using visual tools challenge your students to think more critically about a topic or lesson?

8.5 Create

Create a new or adapt an existing activity/lesson to incorporate the use of a graphic organizer or one of the visually stimulating resources from the suggested websites in this module to assist students with their development of ideas, communication skills, and activity/assignment comprehension. This is an opportunity to learn new teaching ideas/strategies for using visually stimulating tasks from each other and enhance your practice. Use the template below when creating your activity:

Activity/Lesson Name:

Grade level / Unit (if applicable):

Activity Description:

• The purpose of this activity is to...

• This activity is effective for this lesson because…

• Here are some steps to help you use this activity in your classroom…

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Note: This will be added to your Portfolio.

8.6 Share

Share the activity or strategy you created in the group chat. Be sure you post an activity that you have not seen already in the group chat. Please post a brief message and attach a Word document, PDF, or PPT slides with your activity.

Example:

Hello, Colleagues! The activity I want to share as a visually stimulating resource is called _____________________________________________________________ (activity title). The purpose of this activity is to _____________________________________________________________________________________________________. This activity is effective because ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. See the three simple steps in the attached file for an example on how I use this activity in my classroom to increase interaction. (Be sure to attach your activity file.)

8.7 Apply

After you share an activity in the group chat, read through your colleagues' activities. Find at least one or two new activities in the group chat that you can use in your next class. Apply a new activity from this module in your next class. If it was a success, be sure to send a message and tell your colleague "Thank you!" and why it was effective.

8.8 Reflect

Write 1-2 paragraphs to reflect on Module 8 (300-500 words). You may use what you have created, shared, and applied in the previous tasks.

Note: This will be added to your Portfolio.